The international boycotting of America is already underway. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has hurt American interests in fundamental ways. We know already that it has increased terrorist activity in the world and is spurring new waves of al Qaeda recruitment. We also know that it is likely to directly cost America close to 200 Billion dollars before it is done - perhaps even more than that.
But, there is another cost which is likely to be far greater - the long term cost of the international avoidance of American products and services. People in the international community are disgusted by what they now perceive as the true face of America. People are seeing past the marketing of brand America to the substance of the product we currently have on offer. And they don't like what they see. We are naive to expect that they will funnel more of their money into a country that they now regard as an international pariah.
Because I believe the invasion of Iraq to be an act of sabotage against American interests, I continue to stand firmly opposed to it. The sooner the disgrace is ended, the better. The damage to our credibility is done. The sooner we start on the work of repairing it, the better.